Binary personal identification number authentication for contactless card

ABSTRACT

A contactless PIN card includes an orientation reference feature, a plurality of tactile sensors, an arrangement of a plurality of tactile sensors along the edge, an arrangement of a plurality of tactile sensors on the surface or surfaces, an arrangement of a plurality tactile of sensors along the edge and on the surface or surfaces. A plurality of tactile sensors allowed the user to input a binary PIN according to the way how the finger is interacting with the tactile sensors. In addition to the validation of the identifying information embedded within the memory of any existing contactless credit card, debit cards, prepaid electronic cash card, loyalty card and access card, the user&#39;s identification is also validated through the binary PIN. An irreversible mathematical equation can be used to compute the identifying information and user&#39;s binary PIN to generate the validation Radio Frequency Identification signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 7,306,144 B2 2007 Moore 235/380 7,845,567 B2 2010Chan 235/492 2009/0145972 A1 2009 Evans 235/492 9,483,761 B2 2014Brendell G06O 20/352 8,694,793 B2 2014 Evans 713/186 2017/0364913 A12017 Aabye G06Q 20/40 9,727,862 B2 2017 O'Connell G06Q 20/38212017/0286789 A1 2017 Lavin GO6K 9/00912 10,269,020 B2 2019 ChiarellaG06Q 20/4093

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS EP 2 875 495 B1 2016 GASTON G07F 7/10

BACKGROUND ON INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the addition of a plurality of tactilesensors to an existing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) contactlesscard. A plurality of tactile sensors allows the input of a binarypersonal identification number (PIN) with increased ease and speed oftransaction processing for users and also, increased security. Thecontactless card has all the parts of the existing contactless creditcard, debit cards, prepaid electronic cash card, loyalty card and accesscard.

2. Discussion of the State of the Art

Contactless card with Radio Frequency Identification technology is knownas the digital key of the modern society. Radio Frequency Identificationcard contains identifying information stored in the memory throughintegrated circuit (IC), which is connected to an antenna. During thevalidation process, the integrated circuit responds back with a simpleidentifying information upon an interrogating radio frequency signal.Radio Frequency Identification technology allows the exchange of theidentifying information without physical contact or line of sight. RadioFrequency Identification card is used in contactless electronic paymentin numerous commercial applications. The examples of the most commoncommercial applications are credit card payment, bank card payment,prepaid electronic cash card payment and loyalty card payment. RadioFrequency Identification is also commonly used in industrialapplications as identification access card, which unlock door, access toa computer security system, access to computer control system andprovide user identification. The Radio Frequency Identification cardprovides the user a simple, fast and convenient ways to pay and toobtain access.

In all Radio Frequency Identification application, the identifyinginformation stored in the card's memory is communicated to thevalidation terminal to obtain an authorization. The drawback of theRadio Frequency Identification system is that the validation processonly validates the identifying information embedded within the card, andnot the user's identity. Therefore, anyone in possession of the RadioFrequency Identification card can use it. As result, more advanced RadioFrequency Identification card is integrated with biometric sensor suchas fingerprint scanner. The fingerprint scan validates the user'sidentify, which offers an extra level of security to against fraud andunrightful usage. However, the fingerprint scanner generates an imageinformation which takes longer time to process. Further drawback is thatthe fingerprint scanner and the fingertip must be free of water,moisture and foreign particle to obtain a successful scan. Anotherdrawback is the significantly increases of cost and complexity of aRadio Frequency Identification card with fingerprint sensor.

Further innovation is made to improve the security of Radio FrequencyIdentification against fraud and unrightful usage, some cards areintegrated with digital keyboard, an alphabetic keyboard and a touchkeyboard to validate the user's identity. However, the need to type in aPIN on the keyboard, disrupts the seamless validation process. It isdesirable to create a seamless validation solution with an extra levelof security without higher cost and complexity.

This invention disclosure is a Radio Frequency Identification card witha plurality of tactile sensors, which allows the user to input a binaryPIN according to the pattern the finger is interacting with the tactilesensors on the card. In other words, the binary PIN is based on the wayhow the user's fingers are holding the card during the validationprocess. A plurality of tactile sensors and binary PIN is a low-costsolution, which offers an extra level of security against fraud andunrightful usage. Moreover, the input of the binary PIN does not delayor disrupt the validation process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention a contactless PIN card is provided,comprising an orientation reference feature, a plurality of tactilesensors, a user's binary PIN input and a Radio Frequency Identificationsignal output. Also, in one embodiment the contactless PIN can be creditcard, bank card, prepaid cash card, loyalty card, computer smart card,access card and identification card. Also in one embodiment theorientation reference feature can be any type of physical distinction onthe card. Also in one embodiment of a plurality of sensors can beresistive touch sensors, capacitive touch sensors, photoresistive touchsensors and ultrasound touch sensors, or any other type of tactilesensors. Also in one embodiment of a plurality of sensors along the edgecan be arranged in various pattern or array. Also in one embodiment of aplurality of sensors on the surface or surfaces can be arranged invarious pattern or array. Also in one embodiment the mix of plurality ofsensors can be along the edge and the surface or surfaces of the card.Also in one embodiment the user's binary PIN input is based on fingerinteraction with the contactless PIN card during the validation process.Also in one embodiment the binary PIN input is used to validate theuser's identity. Also in one embodiment the Radio FrequencyIdentification signal output is computed through an irreversiblemathematical equation with the value of the identifying information anduser's binary PIN.

In another embodiment of method to input a contactless PIN card isprovided, comprising of the interaction of the finger with sensors. Alsoin one embodiment of a method of interaction of finger with the tactilesensors on the edge. Also in one embodiment of a method of interactionof finger with the tactile sensors on the surface or surfaces. Also inone embodiment of a method of interaction of finger with the tactilesensors on the edge and surface or surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the schematic of one embodiment of thecontactless PIN card.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the schematic of the embodiment of onemethod of finger interacting with the sensors on the contactless PINcard.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the schematic of one embodiment of thecontactless PIN card.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the schematic of the embodiment of onemethod of finger interacting with the sensors on the contactless PINcard.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the schematic of one embodiment of thecontactless PIN card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the schematic of the embodiment of acontactless PIN card 100. Contactless card 100 comprising of anorientation reference feature 101, surface 102, edge 103 all around,memory 104, a plurality of tactile sensors, namely sensor 111, 112, 113,114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120. Contactless PIN card 100 can be acredit card, banking card, prepaid cash card, loyalty card, computersmart card, access card and identification card. Reference feature 101is a physical aspect to aid the user to locate the orientation of thecontactless PIN card 100 to facilitate the user to input the binary PIN.In detail, reference feature 101 is not limited to the fillet on anycorner of contactless PIN card 100, it can also be any type of physicaldistinction on contactless PIN card 100. The user's identifyinginformation is embedded within memory 104 of contactless PIN card 100.Sensor 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120 is notlimited to resistive touch sensor, capacitive touch sensor,photoresistive touch sensor and ultrasound touch sensor. Sensor 111,112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120 are located along theedge 103, which is perpendicular to the surface 102. On surface 102,each sensor can be visually identified with a number, alphabeticalletter, symbol or color code. Sensor 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117,118, 119 and 120 are electrical connected to memory 104. Sensor 111,112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120 allow the user to input aten bits binary PIN. The binary PIN is read by memory 104, but memory104 does not store the binary PIN. During the momentarily interaction ofthe finger and the sensors, the value of the binary PIN is read bymemory 104 and that value is available to be included in the returnauthentication radio frequency signal. The moment the contact is lossbetween the finger and the sensors, the binary value consisting of all 0is read by memory 104. In consequence, the binary PIN is momentarilyavailable for authentication during the contact of the finger and thesensors. It is also possible that binary PIN is read by a secondarymemory, which is linked to a secondary antenna, and generates asecondary output of radio frequency signal. During an authorizationprocess, the user waves the contactless PIN card 100 to the proximity ofthe validation terminal. Meanwhile the user's finger is interacting withthe tactile sensors along the edge 103 of the contactless PIN card 100,the specific engaged sensors generate the user's binary PIN. RadioFrequency Identification technology allows the exchange of theidentifying information without physical contact or line of sight.Finally, the card's identifying information and the user's binary PIN isexchanged with the validation terminal through the radio frequencysignal, if the card's identifying information and the user's binary PINare correct, the authorization is granted.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the schematic of the embodiment of a methodof binary PIN input for contactless PIN card 100. The PIN is generatedaccording to how the user's finger is interacting with the sensors onthe contactless PIN card 100. The contactless PIN card 100 with tensensors, generates a ten bits binary number, which has 1023 possiblecombination. It is no limited to ten sensors. Sensor 111 is 10^(th)digit of the ten bits binary number, and the sensor 120 is the firstdigit of the ten bits binary number. Each sensor generates one binaryvalue. The sensor with finger contact generates a binary output valueof 1. Furthermore, the other sensors without finger contact generate abinary output value of 0. Or vice versa, the sensor in contact with theuser's finger generate a binary output value of 0, and the sensorwithout finger contact generate a binary output value of 1. In ourexample, it is referred that a sensor in contact with finger is anengaged sensor, which generates a binary output value of 1. The user canchoose the number of sensors they wish to engage. In a practical world,engaging 2 to 4 sensors is common, due to the ease of the fingerinteracting with the tactile sensors on the contactless PIN card 100.The choice of 2 to 4 engaged sensors offers the possibility of nearly400 combinations. In this example, 4 sensors are engaged. As the userwaves the contactless PIN card 100 in the proximity of the validationterminal 120. Meanwhile, the user's finger 121 maintains contact withsensor 112, 114, 115 and 116. As a result, the binary PIN is 0101110000.The validation terminal 120 interrogates the contactless PIN card 100,and the return authentication radio frequency signal includes theidentifying information embedded in memory 104 and the user's binaryPIN. In addition to the validation of the identifying information as inexisting contactless credit card, debit cards, prepaid electronic cashcard, loyalty card and access card, the user's binary PIN is alsovalidated.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the schematic of the embodiment of the ofcontactless PIN card 200. Contactless card 200 comprising of anorientation reference feature 201, surface 202, edge all around 203,memory 204, a plurality of tactile sensors, namely sensor 211, 212, 213,214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219 and 220. Contactless card 200 performs andmaintains all the described function of contactless card 100. Thedifference is that sensor 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219and 220 are located on surface 202. During an authorization process, theuser waves the contactless PIN card 200 to the proximity of thevalidation terminal. Meanwhile the user's finger is interacting with thetactile sensors on surface 202, the specific engaged sensors generatethe user's binary PIN.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the schematic of the embodiment of a methodof binary PIN input for contactless PIN card 200. In this example, 3sensors are engaged. As the user waves the contactless PIN card 200 inthe proximity of the validation terminal 220. Meanwhile, the user'sfinger maintain contact with sensor 212, 216 and 219 of the contactlessPIN card 200, the engaged sensors are shown as filled hatched circle forclarity. As a result, the binary PIN output is 0100010010. Thecommunicated Radio Frequency Identification signal composed of theidentifying information from memory 204 and user's binary PIN.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the schematic of the embodiment of thecontactless PIN card 300. Contactless card 300 comprising of theorientation reference feature 301, surface 302, edge all around 303,memory 304, a plurality of tactile sensors, namely sensor 311, 312, 313,314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327,328, 329 and 330. Contactless PIN card 300 is a mix of contactless PINcard 100 and contactless PIN card 200. Contactless card 300 performs andmaintains all the described function of contactless card 100. Thedifference is that contactless PIN card 300 has sensor 311, 312, 313,314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319 and 320 are on the surface 302, and sensor321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329 and 330 are located alongthe edge 303. The binary PIN of twenty bits binary code can generateover one million possible combinations.

As per mentioned, the validation Radio Frequency Identification signalincludes the embedded identifying information and user's binary PIN. Anirreversible mathematical equation can be used to compute the embeddedidentifying information and the user's binary PIN to generate thevalidation Radio Frequency Identification signal. In detail, thevalidation Radio Frequency Identification signal cannot be reversed todecode the embedded identifying information and the user's binary PIN.

The disclosure has been described with reference to particularembodiments and methods, it should be understood that the embodimentsand methods are for illustrative and explanatory purpose. There arenumerous variations, modifications and configurations which may be madewithout departing from the scope of this invention disclosure. For oneinstance, the sensor location and arrange can be made differently to theembodiment shown. The number of sensors can also be different to theembodiment shown. The sensors can be located on both surfaces of thecontactless PIN card. At least one of the advantages of the contactlessPIN card is to offer an extra level of security by validating the user'sidentity. Moreover, the validation process is compatible with existing

What is claimed is:
 1. Whereas the existing types of contactless creditcard, bank card, prepaid cash card, loyalty card, computer smart card,access card and identification card do not have a mean to validate theidentity of the user, the proposed invention is a contactless PIN cardcomprising: an orientation reference feature; a plurality of tactilesensors; an arrangement of a plurality of tactile sensors; a user'sbinary PIN input; a Radio Frequency Identification signal output;
 2. Thecontactless PIN card as set forth in claim 1, can be credit card, bankcard, prepaid cash card, loyalty card, computer smart card, access cardand identification card.
 3. The contactless PIN card as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said orientation reference feature can be any type ofphysical distinction on the card.
 4. The contactless PIN card as setforth in claim 1, wherein said a plurality of sensors can be resistivetouch sensors, capacitive touch sensors, photoresistive touch sensorsand ultrasound touch sensors, or any other type of tactile sensors. 5.The contactless PIN card as set forth in claim 1, wherein said anarrangement of a plurality of tactile sensors can be sensors located onthe edge of the contactless PIN card.
 6. The contactless PIN card as setforth in claim 1, wherein said an arrangement of a plurality of tactilesensors can be sensors located on one surface or both surfaces of thecontactless PIN card.
 7. The contactless PIN card as set forth in claim1, wherein said an arrangement of a plurality of tactile sensors can belocated on the edge and on the surface or both surfaces of the of thecontactless PIN card.
 8. The contactless PIN card as set forth in claim1, wherein said an arrangement of a plurality tactile of sensors can anarrangement of any array, matrix or pattern.
 9. The contactless PIN cardas set forth in claim 1, wherein said binary PIN input is momentarilyavailable for authentication during the contact of the finger and thetactile sensors.
 10. The contactless PIN card as set forth in claim 1,wherein said binary PIN input is to validate the user's identity. 11.The contactless PIN card as set forth in claim 1, wherein said a RadioFrequency Identification signal output can be computed through anirreversible mathematical equation with the value of the identifyinginformation and user's binary PIN.
 12. A method of input contactless PINcard comprising: an interaction of finger with sensors;
 13. The methodas set forth in claim 12, wherein said an interaction of finger withsensors is the contact of finger or palm with the tactile sensors on theedge.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said aninteraction of finger with sensors is the contact of finger or palm withthe tactile sensors on the surface or surfaces.
 15. The method as setforth in claim 12, wherein said an interaction of finger with sensors isthe contact of finger or palm with the tactile sensors on the edge andsurface or surfaces.